After approval of the minutes from the October
4 th Executive Council meeting, Council went into Executive Session for
reports from the Grievance Officer, D. Smith, and the Contract
Maintenance Office, L. Campbell.

Regular Meeting:

Office Update: L. Bucher announced that a 5%
raise for Office Assistant Rita Girardi has been formalized.

Treasurer’s Report: S. Pollack provided a
spreadsheet showing our chapter’s assets and liabilities from
January 1 through September 30, 2006. The consensus of discussion was
that, in order to avoid any possible criticism, the chapter’s tax
return, like our annual audit, should be done by an outside accountant
rather than a UD faculty member.

As a member of the audit commission for the
National AAUP, S. Pollack noted that—although there have been no
accusations of malfeasance—the accounting seems to have been
chaotic. Some chapters have suspended payment of their dues, or have
put the money in escrow, but our chapter is continuing to pay monthly
dues of $6,000.

The AAUP Voice : G. Turkel
explained that the October issue of The AAUP Voice was
delayed because the Farley Printing Company had been so busy with work
relating to the November elections. He added that the November issue
would include David Smith’s clarification of
“Grievances” and “Complaints”—and that
the December issue would include Leon Campbell’s explanation of
the Salary Equity process. Old Business:

With regard to the Chapter History project, G.
Turkel reported that Judy Van Name, our former Council secretary, might
help Steve Finner on the manuscript.

L. Bucher observed that the Joint Fall Luncheon with the
Provost (October 25) was well attended—and that the speaker, a
Rwandan who is being reviewed for asylum by the U. S. State Department,
was also well received. She then invited suggestions for the Joint
Spring Luncheon, and S. Dentel proposed a presentation on the
legitimacy of “electronic degrees”—credentials
obtained through so-called diploma mills—and D. Yanich and S.
Pollack agreed that this would be a timely topic. It was suggested that
one joint meeting (e.g., every fall semester) with the Provost’s
office would be sufficient per academic year.

Regarding a proposed joint meeting between the
AAUP and the Executive Council of the University Senate, L. Bucher
outlined several possible topics of discussion: the
promotion-and-tenure process, the awarding of named professorships,

the status of web-enhanced courses, the
purviews of separate committees on welfare and privileges, and the
composition of the University Senate itself.

New Business:

In discussing the search for a new University
of Delaware president, several Council members were disturbed that the
large search committee included only three members of the faculty. L.
Campbell suggested that Linda Bucher write a letter to Howard Cosgrove
asking for AAUP involvement when finalists are invited to campus.

G. Turkel moved that the chapter contribute
$250 to the SAR program. P. Barber seconded the motion, which passed
with no negative votes and one abstention (by S. Pollack).

National AAUP:

G. Turkel announced that he would be attending
the rescheduled CBC meeting in Washington, D. C., on December 1-2. P.
Barber mentioned that she might also go.

L. Bucher concluded with a reminder of the
final Council meeting of the semester: Wednesday, December 6, at 8:30.